Buccaneers schedule 2017: Dates, opponents, game times, tickets and more

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ 2017 regular season schedule has been announced. The schedule was leaked two hours ahead of time by J.P. Peterson of 620 WDAE, which turned out to be an entirely accurate leak.

The Bucs will get two nationally televised games: in week five on Thursday Night Football against the New England Patriots (ugh), and in week 15 on Monday Night Football against the Atlanta Falcons, which could be decisive for the division title.

Tampa Bay has a pretty balanced schedule overall, with a late bye week (that’s a new experience for them). The week five game against the New England Patriots will be a great litmus test, though the Bucs have had some really disastrous experiences on short weeks on Thursday Night Football.

The NFL puts together its list of opponents based on a predictable, rotating schedule. Each team plays six games against the teams in their division (in this case the NFC South), four games against an AFC division that rotates every year (in this case the AFC East), four games against an NFC division that rotates every year (in this case the NFC North), and two games against in-conference opponents who finished in the same spot in their division (in this case, the Arizona Cardinals and New York Giants).

Buccaneers 2017 regular season schedule

All times ET. Games on Sunday unless stated differently.

Week 1: at Miami Dolphins, September 10, 1 p.m.

Week 2: Chicago Bears, September 17, 1 p.m.

Week 3: at Minnesota Vikings, September 24, 1 p.m.

Week 4: New York Giants, October 1, 4 p.m.

Week 5: New England Patriots, Thursday, October 5, 8:25 p.m. (Thursday)

Week 6: at Arizona Cardinals, October 15, at Cardinals, 4:05 p.m.

Week 7: at Buffalo Bills, October 22, 1 p.m.

Week 8: Carolina Panthers, October 29, 1 p.m.

Week 9: at New Orleans Saints, November 5, 1 p.m.

Week 10: New York Jets, November 12, 1 p.m.

Week 11: BYE

Week 12: at Atlanta Falcons, November 26, 1 p.m.

Week 13: at Green Bay Packers, December 3, 1 p.m.

Week 14: Detroit Lions, December 10, 1 p.m.

Week 15: Atlanta Falcons, Monday, December 18, 8:30 p.m.

Week 16: at Carolina Panthers, December 24, 1 p.m.

Week 17: New Orleans Saints, December 31, 1 p.m.

Buccaneers 2017 preseason schedule

Week 1: Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Cincinnati Bengals, Friday, August 11, 7:30 p.m.

Week 2: Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Jacksonville Jaguars (ESPN, 8 p.m.), Thursday, Aug. 17

Week 3: Cleveland Browns at Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Saturday, August 26, 7:30 p.m.

Week 4: Washington at Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Thursday, August 31, 7:30 p.m

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